Ape Escape fans rejoice - there might just be hope of Japan-only Ape Escape: SaruSaru being brought over to North American shores and into our very own PSPs. Yes, dear readers - this means more portable ape-catching joy, and this time, with mind control! Delicious!

This little bit of good news comes from a recent ESRB sighting of a PSP game titled Ape Quest, with the developers being Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) and the rating being E, for Comic Mischief and Mild Cartoon Violence. Although we're not one to make assumptions right away, the coincidences keep pointing to one viable explanation: Sony's localizing Ape Escape: SaruSaru for North America.

Of course, there's no confirmation yet from Sony on whether this is actually the case, or Ape Quest is another game entirely and one that doesn't connect to Ape Escape in any way. But it's still good to be optimistic about these sort of things - and as we all know, Ape Escape: SaruSaru has been left untranslated for quite a long time.

So while we're waiting for any word from Sony about this matter, let's all just find a happy place within ourselves - a place filled with monkeys we have to catch. Updates as we get them!

Ready for another dose of monkey mayhem? We've got a batch of videos of the upcoming PlayStation Portable video game, Ape Escape: SaruSaru Master Moves (MM).

So what's up with Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's (SCEJ) newest adventure? In this batch of three Ape Escape: SaruSaru videos, we've got the game intro and two gameplay videos featuring bustling bunny-ape and mer-monkey mayhem. If you haven't heard of the game yet, the intro explains a bit about this installment's storyline. Unfortunately, the video is in Japanese so we'll explain a bit of it. Kakeru and Natsumi (or Spike and Natalie), the heroes of Ape Escape: SaruSaru, are inside the laboratory when something hits it.

Poof! They've become small (chiisai) and as usual, Specter is behind it. Anyway, the lab can uproot itself from the ground and hover around and so the adventure starts there. The two other videos show the mind-control gameplay in Ape Escape: SaruSaru, featuring the bunny-ape and the mer-monkey.

Anyway, check out the videos. Enjoy!

Two more videos come right after the jump!

Ape Escape: SaruSaru isn't due out just yet but we've got hold of this cool video that previews the game in a TV Spot in Japan. We can't understand a word they're saying, but it did look pretty wacky. Check this out:

It feels weird to laugh at something not knowing if they're serious or just good straight-faced comedians, eh? If anyone of you out there can decipher Nippongo, please do everyone a favor and translate it in the comments section.

Sony's Ape Escape: Saru Saru follows a successful line of games dating back to the very first PlayStation game console. The story revolves on accidentally-created super-smart simians who seek to take over the world by travelling back through a time machine. Who knew that evil lurked inside the hearts of monkeys? Eating all those bananas may have finally paid off!

We still don't know if video game Ape Escape: SaruSaru Big Mission will ever leave the shores of Japan but don't despair as there is a valid workaround for fans in other markets. We learned the other day that a demo of the title will be released by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ).

Folks be glad for that day is today. We're really quite interested about SaruSaru as it deviates from all the other previous titles in the franchise. If you are not familiar with Ape Escape, it's gameplay basically involves catching monkeys.

This time though, SCEJ looked into role-reversing with players now playing as the free-falling monkey. This change in gameplay is very much tied with the title's background story. Spectre was able to shrink Professor Hakase's laboratory with Kakeru and Natsume stuck inside, hence the twist.

The professor, being the intelligent individual that he is, found a way to assimilate the lab into Spectre's head in the form of a hat. As they say, the best way to learn something is through experience. So don't wait any longer and download the demo below.

Download: Ape Escape: SaruSaru Big Mission demo

Still wondering how you can get your hands on Sony Computer Entertainment's Ape Escape: SaruSaru for Japan? Barring the usual task of visiting and pre-ordering on Play-Asia, or sending in your very own mind-controlled primate commando up to the Far East, we've picked up word that SCE is planning to release free game demos within the next few days.

The first means is via the Playstation 3. Just visit Japan's PlayStation Store, download the file, and upload it to your PSP. For the guys without a PS3 console, the demo should also be available in the official PlayStation (Japan) site, and will use up about 8 MB of space. Now, in case you're already in Japan by virtue of the World Hobby Fair, you can also pick up a demo over at SCEJ's booth on the event grounds.

The Downloadable demos are both expected to release this June 29, while the World Hobby Fair is expected to take place this June 23. Ape Escape: SaruSaru is expected launch in Japan this July 26, at a retail price of ¥ 4980 (US$ 40).

 

Some people contend that any game with a monkey must be good. [What?] That said, Sony Computer Entertainment's Ape Escape SaruSaru Big Mission for the PSP puts a twist on the usual Ape Escape. Normally, you're trying to catch the monkeys. In this game, you are the monkey.

The game starts with Specter capturing Professor Hakase and shrinking his research lab, unfortunately the regular heroes Kakeru and Natsumi were caught inside the lab. To save the professor, the two initiate a back-up plan which was formulated by Professor Hakase. The lab has the ability to merge with the monkeys and gain control of them. Now the monkeys under the control of the two heroes have to collect nanocards to restore the lab and themselves back to normal size.

If you think the concept is weird, you're not alone. Still, judging from the scans, it looks like an interesting game. It's slated to be released on July 26 in Japan, and no word has been given regarding a US release yet. While we wait for an official announcement regarding this game's release on our shores, check out the scans of the game.

   

See the rest of the scans by clicking on the full article link below.

 

A couple of days back, we showed you the first scans and screens of the newest videogame in Sony Computer Entertainment's ape series, Ape Escape SaruSaru. Now, we've got some new info that may prove interesting for primate fans.

Known as Sarugetchu Saru Saru Daisakusen in Japan (or Ape Escape: Saru Saru Grand Tactics, take your pick), the title developed by Hand will be coming to the PSP with an entirely new twist. Instead of playing the humans trying to catch the mischievous ape pests, you'll be able to play as the pesky apes.

Spectre is still out for world domination and has a new scheme. He kidnaps the hapless Professor Hakase and shrinks his laboratory - with Kakeru and Natsumi stuck inside. Fortunately, the shrunk lab looks just like a hat and the professor has found a way to assimilate it with the piposaru apes. So the tiny heroes get to control the apes to find the Nano cards to get them back to their original size.

There are reportedly new apes with special abilities throughout the stages: glider apes to get to high places, mermaid apes to help you swim, fighter apes, and others. Right now, there's no word on Ape Escape SaruSaru's North America or Europe release but we'll keep you posted. Stay tuned.

Can't get enough of the mischievous apes of Sony Computer Entertainment's (SCE) monkey series? The apes are back with Ape Escape SaruSaru for the PSP.

The newest Ape Escapetitle was announced in Famitsu and is reportedly slated for release next summer in Japan. Ape Escape SaruSaru is currently still under development - it's only 70% completed. Right now, there hasn't been any release about the gameplay and if the title will reach Europe and/or North America. At least we can hope that this will follow the footsteps of the other titles in the series.

For those who are curious about Ape Escape SaruSaru, you can check out the new screenshots and the magazine scans below. We'll keep you posted on further developments and details. Keep checking back.

The rest of the screens and scans right after the jump!